Apparatuses, systems, and methods for non-mechanical buttons

Abstract

Apparatuses, systems, and methods for non-mechanical buttons are provided. For example, a switch may be provided that includes a cavitied body of transparent material with a plurality of cavities sized to accept a target object and one or more time of flight sensors, including a first sensor positioned to detect the target object entering one of the cavities. The switch may generate an output signal associated with a switch state based on the target object detected.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A switch comprising:
 a cavitied body comprising a transparent material with at least a first surface including one or more cavities, wherein each of the one or more cavities is sized to accept a target object, and wherein the transparent material is transparent at at least a first wavelength of light;   one or more time of flight sensors configured to radiate light pulses at at least the first wavelength of light, including a first time of flight sensor positioned to detect at least the target object entering at least a first cavity of the one or more cavities based on one or more reflections; and   wherein the switch is configured to generate an output signal associated with a switch state based on the target object detected.   
     
     
         2 . The switch of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more cavities includes a plurality of cavities arranged in a line on the first surface. 
     
     
         3 . The switch of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more cavities includes a plurality of cavities arranged in a two dimensional pattern. 
     
     
         4 . The switch of  claim 3  further comprising a second time of flight sensor, and wherein the first time of flight sensor is associated a first grouping of cavities of the plurality of cavities and the second time of flight sensor is associated a second grouping of cavities of the plurality of cavities. 
     
     
         5 . The switch of  claim 1  further comprising at least one processor and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, are configured to cause the switch to generate the output signal by:
 reading sensor data from the one or more time of flight sensors; 
 generating detection data based on the sensor data; 
 postprocessing the detection data to detect the target object; and 
 generating the output signal associated with the switch state based on the target object detected. 
 
     
     
         6 . The switch of  claim 5 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, are further configured to cause generating the detection data based on the sensor data by:
 identifying cavity sensor data from the sensor data;   generating an indication of target object based on the cavity sensor data and/or one more thresholds; and   generating the detection data based on the indication of target object.   
     
     
         7 . The switch of  claim 5 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, are further configured to cause generating the detection data based on the sensor data by:
 converting the sensor data to neural network input data;   generating, with a neural network, neural network output data; and   generating the detection data based on the neural network output data.   
     
     
         8 . The switch of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one processor includes a first processor and a second processor, wherein the first processor is associated with generating the neural network output data and the second processor is associated with the postprocessing the detection data. 
     
     
         9 . The switch of  claim 7 , wherein the neural network input data is comprised of ranging data, ambient light level data, and signal rate data. 
     
     
         10 . The switch of  claim 1 , wherein the first wavelength of light is one of 805 nm, 905 nm, or 940 nm. 
     
     
         11 . A method for operating a switch comprising:
 providing a cavitied body comprising a transparent material with at least a first surface including one or more cavities, wherein each of the one or more cavities is sized to accept a target object, and wherein the transparent material is transparent at at least a first wavelength of light;   radiating, with one or more time of flight sensors, light pulses at at least the first wavelength of light, including with a first time of flight sensor positioned to detect at least the target object entering at least a first cavity of the one or more cavities based on one or more reflections; and   generating an output signal associated with a switch state based on the target object detected.   
     
     
         12 . The method for operating the switch of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more cavities includes a plurality of cavities arranged in a line on the first surface. 
     
     
         13 . The method for operating the switch of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more cavities includes a plurality of cavities arranged in a two dimensional pattern. 
     
     
         14 . The method for operating the switch of  claim 13 , wherein the one or more time of flight sensors include a second time of flight sensor; and
 wherein the first time of flight sensor is associated a first grouping of cavities of the plurality of cavities and the second time of flight sensor is associated a second grouping of cavities of the plurality of cavities.   
     
     
         15 . The method for operating the switch of  claim 11 , wherein the target object is detected by:
 reading sensor data from the one or more time of flight sensors;   generating detection data based on the sensor data; and   postprocessing the detection data to detect the target object.   
     
     
         16 . The method for operating the switch of  claim 15 , wherein generating the detection data based on the sensor data comprises:
 identifying cavity sensor data from the sensor data;   generating an indication of target object based on the cavity sensor data and/or one more thresholds; and   generating the detection data based on the indication of target object.   
     
     
         17 . The method for operating the switch of  claim 15  wherein generating the detection data based on the sensor data comprises:
 converting the sensor data to neural network input data; 
 generating, with a neural network, neural network output data; and 
 generating the detection data based on the neural network output data. 
 
     
     
         18 . The method for operating the switch of  claim 17 , wherein the switch comprises a first processor and a second processor, wherein the first processor is associated with generating the neural network output data and the second processor is associated with the postprocessing the detection data. 
     
     
         19 . The method for operating the switch of  claim 17 , wherein the neural network input data is comprised of ranging data, ambient light level data, and signal rate data. 
     
     
         20 . The method for operating the switch of  claim 11 , wherein the first wavelength of light is one of 805 nm, 905 nm, or 940 nm.